Christmas comes early in Malawi

Christmas came early for 22 families at Chilomoni Health Centre in Malawi yesterday as clothing, blankets and teddies made by Stork Support Knitters in the UK were distributed to vulnerable children from the local area.

New born babies and children under the age of five are acutely vulnerable to preventable and curable diseases in Malawi. The children living in the Chilomoni area on the outskirts of Blantyre are no exception and at the beginning of the rainy season they are particularly vulnerable to coughs and fevers, acute respiratory infections and pneumonia. When pneumonia is combined with malaria it can be deadly.

So keeping these vulnerable youngsters warm and dry during the rainy season is a great step forward in helping to stop them from contracting coughs, colds and pneumonia.

We would like to say a huge thank you to Stork Support Knitters for all their efforts on our behalf, and we had this message from Malawi yesterday:

"The children's parents were very happy and they asked us to thank the donors on their behalf."

  

What else would you do on a Monday night?

"What else would you do on a Monday night?" This was what Hugh McShane, one of the organisers of Hurst Dad's Footballer's said to me when I spoke to him about their incredible fundraising efforts on behalf of Joshua.

Hugh, Jon Bunning and around eighteen dads and some former students of Hurstpierpoint College meet every Monday night to play football. They started around four years ago, because there weren't many activities for the dads to get involved in and they were looking for something fun to do.

When the college give them a pitch to play on for free they thought they should donate their weekly subs, £5 a player to a charity, and we were delighted that they picked Joshua as their charity of choice.

Four years on and they have now raised over £10,000 for Joshua, playing matches in Paris, at Brighton’s famous AMEX stadium as well playing Brighton Police force (all friendlies of course).

As a small charity this money has had a huge impact and we simply can't thank them enough for their incredible support. They play come rain or shine and always retire to The New Inn for some post match analysis and a well-earned pint. And the best bit? How much they all enjoy it, as Hugh said: "You miss it if you don't do it."



We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has played in the team and helped to improve the lives of some of the poorest people in Malawi, by playing the beautiful game - you're all legends!

Remembrance Recital relieves poverty

Last Saturday Richard Mayers played a one-off Remembrance Recital at St Mary Magdalen Church in Tilehurst. 
The evening including the recital of three war poems, among them a worldwide favourite, Laurence Binyons "For the fallen."

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."

Those who attended found the reflective evening most enjoyable and stayed afterwards to drink and socialise. Richard's recital and the ongoing generosity of those at St Mary Magdalen’s, resulted in the church raising another £200 for Joshua's life changing work in Malawi.

It is moving to think that in remembering those who gave their lives so that we could have our freedom, we can also liberate people on the other side of the world from the shackles of poverty. 

We are incredibly grateful to everyone at the church who has supported Joshua over the last year.

To find out more about how Joshua works with Church communities to improve lives in Malawi, click here.

Charity Christmas Sale and Coffee Morning

Joshua Trustee Sarah Charlton and I were delighted to be a part of the Charity Christmas Sale and Coffee Morning at St Mary Magdalen church in Tilehurst a few weeks ago. As well as Joshua, there were stalls from; Tearfund, Fairtrade, RNIB, RSPB, Cats Protection League, Mothers Union and the Children’s Society. Over £500 was exchanged between shoppers and stalls, and a great morning was had by all. 

Sarah and I were particularly addicted to the array of homemade biscuits and cakes which were on offer and it was a delight to meet so many of the people who have been supporting Joshua over the last year. This small but friendly church have now raised over £1,000 for Joshua, which will help some of the most impoverished children in Malawi have better lives.

Why not put the date in your diary now for next year’s event - October 17 2015! Of course, this may change nearer the time by a week or two.